Address of Human Rights Center about Miscarriages in the Medical Service in the Penitentiary System

Human Rights Center appeals to the Minister of Corrections and Legal Aid, to the Healthcare Department of the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Aid to eradicate miscarriages in the provision of medical service to those prisoners, whose health was damaged as a result of torture and inhuman treatment or improper conditions in the penitentiary establishments in 2006-2012. 

Human Rights Center processes cases where beneficiaries complain inattention from the Ministry of Corrections about their poor health conditions, which were caused by so-called zero-tolerance policy when torture and inhuman treatment was systemic crime in the penitentiary establishments and besides that, there were unbearable conditions in prison facilities.

There are cases when medical department of the Ministry neglects poor health conditions of the prisoners and ignores its responsibility to ensure adequate medical and psycho-social rehabilitation of prisoners. In similar cases Human Rights Center is compelled to appeal to the court and oblige the Ministry to address the facts of grave health problems of prisoners through litigation. 

Human Rights Center worked on the case of M.T. prisoner at Prison # 12, who appealed to the court against the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Aid with the support of the Center. Lawyer Tamar Avaliani at Human Rights Center represented him at the court; the applicant claimed adequate medical treatment and reimbursement for the damage caused by the breached right to healthcare. 

Convicted M.T. served his term since 2007. His health problems started as a result of unbearable conditions and inadequate medical treatment during imprisonment term.

Despite many appeals of the prisoner and Human Rights Center, the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Aid did not provide adequate medical treatment for him.

On October 8, 2015 the Administrative Collegium of the Tbilisi City Court passed verdict and ordered the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Aid to provide prisoner M.T. with adequate medical treatment. Besides that, the Ministry was ordered to pay 7 000 GEL as compensation for the damage caused by inadequate medical treatment.

Human Rights Center